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COMMENTARY During my career I have been to many of these places. The world is a beautiful and wonderful place and I love travel. But I wonder how many places of great beauty and wonder are within 100 miles of where each of us lives ... Can any of us list 45 of such places? How many of these places have we visited and taken the children? If not ... why not? Peter Burgess |
The 45 Places to Go in 2012 IMAGE Koh Rong Island, Cambodia. More Photos » By NEW YORK TIMES Slide Show Where to Go in 2012 Slide Show Chiloé Island, Chile Slide Show Dakhla, Morocco Slide Show San Diego Slide Show Moganshan, China Slide Show Portovenere, Italy Slide Show Koh Rong, Cambodia Slide Show Malacca, Malaysia Slide Show Halong Bay, Vietnam Slide Show Paraty, Brazil GRAPHIC: How the Dollar Travels Enlarge This Image Henna Aaltonen for The New York Times Finnish design in Helsinki. More Photos » 1. Panama ... Go for the canal. Stay for everything else. Slide Shows It’s been 12 years since Panama regained control of its canal, and the country’s economy is booming. Cranes stalk the skyline of the capital, Panama City, where high-rises sprout one after the next and immigrants arrive daily from around the world. Among those who have landed en masse in recent years are American expatriates and investors, who have banked on Panamanian real estate by building hotels and buying retirement homes. The passage of the United States-Panama free trade agreement in October is expected to accelerate this international exchange of people and dollars (the countries use the same currency). Among the notable development projects is the Panama Canal itself, which is in the early stages of a multibillion-dollar expansion. The project will widen and deepen the existing canal and add two locks, doubling the canal’s cargo capacity. For those who want to see the waterway as it was originally designed, now is the time. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2014, the canal’s 100-year anniversary. Other high-profile projects include the construction of three firsts: The Panamera, the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Latin America (set to open in June 2012); the Trump Ocean Club, the region’s tallest building, which opened last summer; and Frank Gehry’s first Latin American design, the BioMuseo, a natural history museum scheduled to open in early 2013. Even Panama City’s famously dilapidated historic quarter, Casco Viejo, has been transformed. The neighborhood, a tangle of narrow streets, centuries-old houses and neo-colonial government buildings, was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997 and is now a trendy arts district with galleries, coffeehouses, street musicians and some of the city’s most stylish restaurants and boutique hotels. Across the isthmus, on Panama’s Caribbean coast, the Bocas del Toro archipelago has become a popular stop on the backpacker circuit, with snorkeling and zip lining by day and raucous night life after dark. FREDA MOON 2. Helsinki, Finland Design. Design. Design. Aesthetics fuel a new cool. Copenhagen’s culinary awakening and Stockholm’s trend-setting fashion may have ignited the world’s current infatuation with Nordic culture; now Helsinki is poised for the spotlight. The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design has designated it the World Design Capital for 2012. Design has long been part of the city’s DNA, but in recent years the scene has been increasingly energized: the official Design District has ballooned to encompass 25 streets and nearly 200 design-minded businesses, which range from shops selling housewares and furniture to boutique hotels and clothing stores. Design has infiltrated the restaurant scene as well, notably the elegant Chez Dominique and the hot newcomer (and Michelin-starred) Olo. On top of all that is the spectacular new $242 million Helsinki Music Center. Student ensembles from the Sibelius Academy — the sole university in Finland devoted exclusively to music — will perform in the striking glass-walled space, and both the Vienna Philharmonic and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestras will give concerts in 2012. INGRID K. WILLIAMS 3. Myanmar Back on the tourist map after being off-limits for years. With renowned cultural treasures, world-class boutique hotels and deserted beaches, Myanmar has long been high on intrepid travelers’ wish lists. For years, though, heeding calls by the pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and others, many stayed away in protest of Myanmar’s authoritarian regime. Now, however, this is changing. Since November 2010, when Myanmar’s rulers held nominally free elections and released Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi after 15 years of house arrest, the boycott has been lifted and Myanmar is set for an influx of visitors. Because the country has been so isolated, the deeply Buddhist “Land of the Golden Pagoda” resonates with a strong sense of place, undiluted by mass tourism and warmed by genuine hospitality. Travelers will find atmospheric hotels and a network of well-maintained regional jets serving the main sites. (Keep in mind that visas are still required and that the economy remains largely cash-based.) But locals are aware of the potential downside of tourism as well. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi has called for sustainable development and “trickle down” tourism where dollars will do the most good. With these goals in mind, nestled along the banks of meandering Lake Inle in eastern Myanmar, the ViewPoint eco-lodge combines locally sourced materials with individually tailored activities supporting the local economy (like garden-to-table lunches at an island village house). Similarly, in Ngapali Beach — a pristine swath of coastline on the Bay of Bengal — the Amara Ocean Resort ratchets up the om factor with a hand-built spa. The resort finances relief projects in the Irrawaddy River delta. CEIL MILLER-BOUCHET 4. London The Olympics! The Queen! Charles Dickens turns 200! Dotted with construction sites, London is preparing for the pomp and circumstance of the Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Queen’s 60th year on the throne. New stadiums, public spaces and shopping centers are emerging on the city’s eastern edge, and on the western edge a 137-room Waldorf Astoria has opened on a 400-acre estate near Heathrow Airport. But it’s not all sport and royalty. On a street of chocolate-box Georgian houses in Bloomsbury, the Charles Dickens Museum will reopen in time for the author’s 200th birthday. Across town, Warner Brothers Studio Tour will open the Harry Potter studios to those keen to re-live the films. The Rolling Stones, celebrating their 50th anniversary, might tour again, with a possible finale here. And Robert Redford will inaugurate a London outpost of the Sundance Film festival at the O2 Arena in April. Amid the hubbub, flashes of eccentricity emerge. If the Waldorf doesn’t appeal, stay in an architect-designed boat, perched on the edge of a roof overlooking the Thames. Or visit the British outpost of Occupy London, which will be maintaining its tent city outside St. Paul’s cathedral. RAVI SOMAIYA 5. Oakland, Calif. New restaurants and bars beckon amid the grit. Tensions have cooled since violence erupted at the recent Occupy Oakland protests, but the city’s revitalized night-life scene has continued to smolder. The historic Fox Theater reopened in 2009 and quickly cemented its status as one of the Bay Area’s top music venues, drawing acts like Wilco and the Decemberists. Meanwhile, the city’s ever more sophisticated restaurants are now being joined by upscale cocktail bars, turning once-gritty Oakland into an increasingly appealing place to be after dark. James Syhabout, the chef who earned Oakland its first (and only) Michelin star two years ago at Commis, followed up in May with the instant-hit Hawker Fare, a casual spot serving Asian street food. Big-name San Francisco chefs are now joining him. Daniel Patterson (of two-Michelin-star Coi) opened the restaurant Plum in late 2010 and an adjacent cocktail bar later, and another restaurant, called Haven, in the recently renovated Jack London Square last month. INGRID K. WILLIAMS 6. Tokyo With some tourists slow to return, greater opportunities for those who do. The thought of traveling to Tokyo will most likely make some people nervous. Though the city is about 180 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, the site of the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl — and the State Department recommends travelers avoid only the area directly around the disaster site — Tokyo has suffered as well, a problem of perception as much as reality. But from another vantage point, it’s a perfect time to visit. A decrease in tourism and business travel is making the city all the more accessible and welcoming. According to Laurent Vernhes, a founder and the chief executive of TabletHotels.com, a travel site with a curated list of distinctive lodging options, tourism hasn’t yet returned to normal levels. “Rates are still down about 10 percent on average compared to the same time last year,” Mr. Vernhes said. When I visited the city in the fall, it was clear that it is still crackling with energy. But now it’s possible to get a previously unthinkable last-minute reservation at one of the city’s many world-class restaurants or a room in hotels usually booked solid. A Saturday night dinner at Kagurazaka Ishikawa, a pricey but discreet restaurant with three Michelin stars and an artful tasting menu? No problem. And lodging options for all budgets have gotten easier. Chances are you can find a room at the elegant Park Hyatt Tokyo, a luxurious high-rise, or at the Tokyo Ryokan, a family-run hotel with just three simple bedrooms that often are reserved well in advance. OLIVER STRAND Note: An earlier version of the subheading with this entry has been changed because it was unintentionally insensitive in making a link between last year’s tragedy in Japan and the opportunity for tourism. 7. Tanzania Coming into its own as an upscale safari destination. For the last several years the number of tourists going to Tanzania has been edging up, according to East African travel specialists like Hippo Creek Safaris and Abercrombie & Kent. But it wasn’t until several violent attacks on visitors to neighboring Kenya that the numbers really took off, as Tanzania started to absorb skittish Kenya-bound safari seekers. Not that Tanzania is coasting along solely on Kenya’s troubles; it’s always had Mount Kilimanjaro, after all. And now other attractions are being discovered, too — places like Gibb’s Farm, a small lodge from which guests can hike to the Ngorongoro Crater area, a prime destination for big game viewing. In addition, the opening of exclusive safari reserves like the Singita Grumeti and the upscale camps managed by Nomad Tanzania and Chem Chem are evidence that the country’s tourist infrastructure is becoming more sophisticated, perhaps even catching up to Kenya’s. GISELA WILLIAMS 8. Chilean Patagonia Proof that adventure doesn’t have to mean roughing it. With its mix of snowy peaks, pristine rain forest and network of virgin national parks, Chile is emerging as one of the world’s adventure hot spots and now has a spate of rugged luxury lodges in which adventure-seekers can stay. Puma Lodge, a glass-and-wood design showcase about an hour and a half south of Santiago, features heli-skiing through miles of untouched powder, and outside of Patagonia’s Torres del Paine Park, the brand-new Tierra Patagonia offers activities like horseback riding over the steppes and boat outings on a glacial lake (while also offering creature comforts like a spa and a heated indoor pool). Meanwhile, the latest Singular property, which also opened in November outside the park, leads expeditions into the nearby glaciers. For custom trips, pioneers to the region like Cazenove & Loyd can help navigate the logistical challenges of criss-crossing Chile’s dramatic landscapes. ONDINE COHANE 9. Lhasa, Tibet New luxury hotels bring respite — and controversy. Tibet’s holy capital is in the throes of a luxury-hotel boom. In Lhasa, this is news: not only is operating an upscale hotel at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level no small feat, but real-estate developments here are, almost by default, also culturally loaded. The majestic, 162-room St. Regis Lhasa Resort has been in full operation since May. In 2010, a charming Tibetan-owned villa called the Lingtsang reopened as a boutique hotel with opulent, colorful woodwork and courtyard verandas. And coming soon are the sprawling InterContinental Resort Lhasa Paradise and the 284-room Shangri-La, both scheduled to open in 2013. On the upside, it’s the first time that travelers can get high-end amenities in a city where even basic hospitality has been a challenge. On the downside, the openings — like Lhasa’s booming population, new business districts and shopping malls — are seen by many Tibetans and interested outsiders as more cultural colonization and exploitation of a sacred land. KIMBERLY BRADLEY 10. Havana, Cuba The Cuban capital is once again within Americans’ reach. The only thing that lies between Americans and the sultry streets of Havana these days is the Florida Straits, since the Obama administration has widened the kind of travel allowed. A growing list of organizations have licenses to operate trips to Cuba, including National Geographic Expeditions, Austin-Lehman and the Center for Cuban Studies. There are also more flights from more American cities: Fort Lauderdale and Tampa recently joined New York, Miami and Los Angeles on the list, and Chicago will be added this year. The “people-to-people” rules require Americans to interact with Cubans (sun-and-sand vacations are still prohibited) so tours involve meeting with art historians, organic farmers and others. Conveniently, new restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts, some in gorgeous colonial villas, have sprung up over the past year as the government has allowed more private enterprise. Havana is also gearing up for its 11th Biennial, from May 11 to June 11, which will draw more than 100 Cuban and international artists. VICTORIA BURNETT 11. Moscow New cultural venues add a dash of the sacred and profane. The 45 Places to Go in 2012 Published: January 6, 2012 RECOMMEND TWITTER LINKEDIN COMMENTS (170) E-MAIL PRINT SINGLE PAGE REPRINTS SHARE (Page 2 of 4) The extravagantly renovated Bolshoi Theater has been preening like a prima donna before the news media’s flashbulbs since it reopened in October. And given the $760 million face-lift to the 236-year-old grand dame you can almost hear the czars applauding from their tombs. Justin Mott for The New York Times Yangon, Myanmar. More Photos » Slide Shows Slide Show Where to Go in 2012 Slide Show Chiloé Island, Chile Slide Show Dakhla, Morocco Slide Show San Diego Slide Show Moganshan, China Slide Show Portovenere, Italy Slide Show Koh Rong, Cambodia Slide Show Malacca, Malaysia Slide Show Halong Bay, Vietnam Slide Show Paraty, Brazil GRAPHIC: How the Dollar Travels Readers’ Comments Share your thoughts. Post a Comment » Read All Comments (170) » But beyond the spotlight, two compelling museums have also made their debuts. The Russian Icon Museum is said to hold the largest private collection of Russian and Eastern Christian religious artwork (some 4,000 pieces). Admission to the museum is free. You won’t find many virgins or saints at Tochka G, whose name translates as “G Spot.” With more than 3,000 sex-related items, the bounty includes everything from Soviet-era condoms to high-tech sex dolls to “Wrestling,” a 2011 painting by the Russian artist Vera Donskaya-Khilko that depicts a buff Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama challenging each other with their cartoonishly oversized phalluses. In Russia, size does matter. SETH SHERWOOD 12. Glasgow Zaha Hadid takes on a Scottish waterfront. Scotland’s second city now has a $115 million museum designed by Zaha Hadid to go with its shiny new harbor and river promenade. The Riverside Museum, which opened in June, is housed in a stunning building on the waterfront, with a 3,000-piece collection devoted to Glasgow’s rich shipbuilding and engineering past. Its location, along the River Clyde, was once home to many shipyards, and considered the economic heart of Glasgow. But when the industry left, the area stagnated. Not anymore. Glasgow has spent more than a decade redeveloping 130 acres of derelict shipyard and unused dockland in an effort to restore the waterway to its former glory. Now there’s a pleasant riverside walkway with steel street furniture, cobblestones from Victorian Glasgow and maritime paraphernalia. Lime trees are planted on both sides of the esplanade, and there are bicycle paths throughout. A new ferry stop for the Riverside Museum, which just saw its one-millionth visitor, marks the first time in around 50 years that this section of the river has had regular passenger service. RACHEL B. DOYLE 13. Puebla, Mexico International mole festival. Need we say more? May 5, 2012, is the 150-year anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, the date when, in 1862, an outmanned Mexican army defeated the French troops of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. The occasion will be marked with a fiesta in Puebla, the chief spot in Mexico that celebrates the holiday. Ahead of the May festival, the city, the affluent capital of one of Mexico’s safest states, is building a light rail line similar to the one in Mexico City and renovating public spaces. Privately, Museo Amparo, which holds one of the country’s most impressive collections of indigenous and colonial-era artifacts, has undergone a $17 million update and expansion. But the city’s biggest draw might be its famous mole poblano. The city is inaugurating an international mole festival which will begin on May 2. Hopes are that it will attract celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless, who recently took staff members to Puebla’s Mural de los Poblanos restaurant for their annual employee trip. FREDA MOON 14. San Diego With breweries and brewpubs, a sunny heaven for suds lovers. Slide Show Even in times of tight budgets, finely crafted beer remains a relatively approachable luxury, and few American regions have more brewing momentum than San Diego County. Maybe it’s time, then, to think about building a beer safari in the land of sunshine, fish tacos and hopped-up American IPAs. Long established craft breweries like Karl Strauss Brewing Company and the cheeky Stone Brewing Company have mentored brewmasters and created demand for some seriously offbeat ales. The area has long been a hotbed of garage-based hobbyists, so it’s no surprise that the region also has a tradition of dedicated home brewing. The result is a cluster of small breweries, like the tiny but soon-to-expand Hess Brewing. And there are numerous opportunities for rigorous but never dour beer tastings, at staggeringly comprehensive shops like Bottlecraft Beer Shop & Tasting Room and Pizza Port Bottle Shop, as well as beer-obsessed taverns like Hamilton’s and O’Brien’s and restaurants like Local Habit. Those looking for full immersion can pack a stein for the fourth annual San Diego Beer Week in November. SARA DICKERMAN 15. Halong Bay, Vietnam New ways to visit a natural wonder in Southeast Asia. Slide Show Though Halong Bay, a staggering seascape of some 1,600 limestone islands and islets in the Gulf of Tonkin, formed over millions of years, there’s never been a better time to visit. In November, the Unesco World Heritage site was provisionally named one of the world’s “new seven wonders of nature” based on a global poll conducted by the Swiss foundation New7Wonders — just as Vietnam Airlines announced the first-ever nonstop flights between London and Vietnam. Largely untouched by humans and topped with thick jungle flora, the rock formations rise dramatically in conical peaks and pillars from the surrounding waters, which feature offshore coral reefs, freshwater swamps, mangrove forests and sandy beaches. Visitors can now reach what Ho Chi Minh himself called “the wonder one cannot impart to others,” on local junk boats, luxury cruises or a spate of new adventure tours offered by companies like InterAsia, World Expeditions and the Luxury Travel Group. CHARLY WILDER 16. Florence, Italy A Renaissance city gets a contemporary kick. Since 2009, Florence’s youthful mayor, Matteo Renzi, has championed efforts to build a livable, living city that celebrates — but is not yoked to — its rich history (and historic riches). The result? An energized arts scene unfolding inside various medieval palazzi, ancient landmarks restored and reopened to the public for the first time in decades and restaurants abandoning traditional Tuscan staples for sophisticated contemporary food. The grand 15th-century Palazzo Strozzi is now home to the Center for Contemporary Culture Strozzina, a destination for must-see events like the coming “Americans in Florence: Sargent and the American Impressionists,” which opens in March. Spazi Urbani Contemporanei, an arts space occupying a 15th-century former monastery, now features works from emerging Italian artists. Last year, the 148- foot-tall 14th-century San Niccolò tower reopened to the public with one of the best panoramic views of the city. And in September, the flagship Gucci Museum made its debut in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia. The city’s stock of refined hotel offerings has also been elevated by the opulent new St. Regis Florence, which opened in a palatial riverside palazzo in May, and the Grand Hotel Villa Cora, another five-star stunner near the Boboli Gardens. Even the once-staid Florentine dining scene has been reborn with new restaurants like IO Osteria Personale and Ossi di Seppia. Next for the Tuscan capital are plans to restore the banks of the Arno River and spruce up the city’s largest park. INGRID K. WILLIAMS 17. St. Vincent A new resort may put this Caribbean island on the map. The fact that American Airlines does not fly there could explain why St. Vincent remains among the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets: a stunningly lush, unspoiled gem of an island surrounded by water cerulean enough to render that of other islands murky by comparison. What there is here — a climbable volcano, dramatic waterfalls, black-sand beaches — is dwarfed by what there isn’t: chain stores, crowds, big hotels. Except, that is, for one notably new exception. Buccament Bay, a five-star resort, opened in the fall and boasts more rooms, about 360, than all other hotels on the island combined. And there are the resort’s five restaurants, a spa, a soccer camp and performing arts center. The resort, along with a new international airport that is scheduled to open in late 2013 and designed to handle five times the number of passengers currently arriving at the island, will most likely let the cat out of the bag and attract the long overdue crowds. Get there before they do. BAZ DREISINGER 18. Moganshan, China Luxury in the former mountain hideaway of Shanghai gangsters. Slide Show For much of the early 20th century, Moganshan, a bamboo-covered mountain about three hours from Shanghai, served as a tranquil retreat for the elite. Wealthy foreigners took up residence on the mountain first, building stone villas and tennis courts. Then came the Chinese power brokers, including the Shanghai mob boss Du Yuesheng and the Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek, who honeymooned here in 1927. After a lull, the past decade has seen foreigners repopulating Moganshan’s sleepy slopes, transforming old villas into homes and guesthouses. And in late 2011, the mountain went upscale with two new luxury properties. The 121-room eco-resort Naked Stables features tree-top villas with Jacuzzis set on balconies overlooking the mountains, and African-inspired “earth huts” built with environmentally friendly rammed-earth walls. Set on a tea plantation, the 40-room Le Passage Moganshan, which partly opened in December, takes its inspiration from Moganshan’s historic manor homes, with century-old recycled wood floors and a magnificent garden planted with 12,000 rose bushes. JUSTIN BERGMAN 19. Birmingham, England Could England’s second city be first in food? Olive, the BBC’s food magazine, recently startled British gourmands when it declared Birmingham, England’s second largest city, the United Kingdom’s “foodiest town,” ahead of London and Edinburgh. The award came last October, just as Birmingham was hosting an annual festival, the 10-day Birmingham Food Fest, which featured such local talents as Aktar Islam of Lasan Restaurant; up-and-comers like David Colcombe of Opus, Andy Waters of Edmunds Restaurant and Steve Love of Loves Restaurant; and a troika of Michelin-starred chefs: Glynn Purnell of Purnell’s; Andreas Antona, Luke Tipping and Adam Bennett of Simpsons Restaurant; and Richard Turner of Turners of Harborne. The chefs are building on an already rich dining scene. Birmingham is famous in Britain for its Balti Triangle, an area of town that is home to a beloved Pakistani-Kashmiri curry dish invented here; it is also birthplace to such classically British food items as Typhoo Tea, Bird’s Custard and HP Sauce. ALEXANDER LOBRANO 20. Space The final frontier now has a ticket agent. It’s not just the imaginings of science fiction geeks. Pretty soon anyone with $200,000 will be able to travel to the last frontier: space or — more specifically — the upper edge of Earth’s atmosphere. In 2004 Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic with the primary goal of pioneering commercial flights to space. Last year the company began test-flying SpaceShipTwo, an aircraft that will enable two pilots and six passengers to travel to suborbital space. Although no launch date has been confirmed (a 2012 date was pushed back to 2013), about 450 people from around the globe have already purchased tickets; the first passengers will be (surprise!) Richard Branson and his two children, Sam and Holly. Flights will take off from the brand-new spaceport near Las Cruces, N.M., but Virgin Galactic “Space Agent” Joshua Bush of Park Avenue Travel in Philadelphia, predicts that in a few years “We’ll eventually be able to take off from New York, orbit the Earth and then land in Tokyo in two or three hours.” What will it be like? “After the rocket motor turns off there is complete silence,” said Mr. Bush, who has read about the experiences of many astronauts. “You look out the window and see a thin blue line of the atmosphere and comprehend how small and insignificant we are.” GISELA WILLIAMS 21. Kerala, India A new Indian biennale will make its debut in this coastal state. Last year India hosted its first pavilion at the Venice Biennale. This year the country inaugurates a biennale of its own. To be held in the southwestern state of Kerala, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale will feature contemporary painting, film, sculpture, installations, new media and performances by Indian and international artists. Most of the action will unfold in the colonial city of Kochi, whose contemporary art scene already offers more than a dozen venues, from the two-year-old David Hall — a 1695 Dutch colonial mansion — to the longstanding Kashi Art Café, a restaurant-gallery-garden-cafe. To host the events, the city’s 19th-century Durbar Hall and other old buildings are getting top-to-bottom face-lifts. But the most remarkable historical reclamation project is happening in the biennale’s other Kerala site, Muziris. A fabled ancient port that traded spices and silk with Egypt and Greece two millennia ago, Muziris mysteriously vanished sometime after the fall of Rome. Archaeologists have recently located and started to excavate the vanished settlement, which opened to tourists this year. The biennale’s start date is Dec. 12, 2012, or 12/12/12. SETH SHERWOOD 22. Paraty, Brazil Putting Brazil’s Costa Verde on the cultural map. Slide Show This peaceful hideaway is swiftly becoming the most culturally rich destination in Costa Verde, the 325-mile coastline between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Paraty’s cultural calendar includes a three-year-old jazz, blues and soul festival organized by São Paulo’s top live music venue, the Bourbon Street Music Club. Every June, acts like the American trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the Brazilian trombonist Raul de Souza bring their sounds to the historic quarter’s cobblestone streets. Another recently inaugurated event is Paraty Em Foco, a yearly series of photography exhibits showcasing up-and-coming artists from Brazil and beyond. And there’s Flip, a literary festival packed with readings, caipirinha-fueled parties and erudite stars like Ian McEwan, Isabel Allende and Salman Rushdie. Paraty’s other attractions include boutiques with tasteful handcrafts, cozy cafes, candlelit seafood restaurants and charming inns. The most stylish is Casa Turquesa, voted best new pousada of 2009 by Guia Quatro Rodas (Brazil’s version of the Michelin guide). Late this year, Paraty will get its first high-profile luxury hotel. The French brand Maisons des Rêves — known for its chic Relais & Châteaux lodgings — plans to open a property near the town’s sailboat-lined harbor. PAOLA SINGER 23. Koh Rong, Cambodia A string of islands recalls an undiscovered Asian paradise. Slide Show Many adventurous travelers are looking beyond the temples at Angkor to see what else Cambodia has to offer. One possibility is the Koh Rong Archipelago, whose main island is a 30-minute boat ride from the coastal town of Sihanoukville. Until recently there was no place to stay on this string of islands, but that changes with the opening of the Song Saa resort this year. Rory Hunter, the owner, and his wife, Melita, discovered the untouched archipelago several years after they moved to Cambodia in 2004. Melita, previously an artist specializing in sculptural art installations, designed Song Saa to resemble a Cambodia fishing village — at least from the outside. Inside guests will find luxurious contemporary comforts like an infinity pool and Wi-Fi complimented by Asian antiques and market finds, like large driftwood columns, old copper bowls, recycled boat timber walls and century-old Cambodian day beds. (For about $600 per person a night.) Guests will be able to snorkel with sea horses by day and swim in bioluminescent waters at night. And then there’s the food. The resort’s chef, Neil Wager, imported from the exclusive North Island resort in the Seychelles, will be serving up his own version of local Khmer cuisine starring sustainable local seafood. GISELA WILLIAMS 24. Vienna Modern art spruces up Austria’s imperial capital. The 45 Places to Go in 2012 Published: January 6, 2012 RECOMMEND TWITTER LINKEDIN COMMENTS (177) E-MAIL PRINT SINGLE PAGE REPRINTS SHARE (Page 3 of 4) After a flurry of activity, Vienna’s venerable museum scene is prepped for a banner year. July marks the 150th birthday of its native son Gustav Klimt, the Vienna Secessionist master whose dreamily erotic gold-leaf paintings have become some of modernism’s most popular (and expensive) works; in a range of exhibitions throughout 2012, more of his pieces will be on display in one place than ever before. Slide Shows Slide Show Where to Go in 2012 Slide Show Chiloé Island, Chile Slide Show Dakhla, Morocco Slide Show San Diego Slide Show Moganshan, China Slide Show Portovenere, Italy Slide Show Koh Rong, Cambodia Slide Show Malacca, Malaysia Slide Show Halong Bay, Vietnam Slide Show Paraty, Brazil GRAPHIC: How the Dollar Travels Readers’ Comments Share your thoughts. Post a Comment » Read All Comments (177) » And in a city known for its starchy reluctance to change, two pre-eminent institutions have taken on ambitious new directors: Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, the influential former director of the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York, was announced as the new head of the sprawling Museum of Applied Arts, and the Museum of Modern Art reopened in September after extensive renovations and the appointment of a new director, the German curator Karola Kraus. Last month, another modern art specialist, 20er Haus, reopened as 21er Haus, an exhibition space and cultural center presenting Austrian art from 1945 to the present. And a new high-profile collaboration, to make its debut this spring, will further strengthen the city’s art scene: the contemporary art doyenne Francesca von Habsburg will lend both her keen artistic direction and considerable coffers to Augarten Contemporary at the Belvedere museum, set in a Baroque palace complex. The three-year project, called Thyssen-Bornemisza Augarten Contemporary, weds the Belvedere, one of the city’s biggest public art institutions, with Ms. von Habsburg’s private foundation, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary. (For more on Vienna, see the 36 Hours column on page 11.) CHARLY WILDER 25. Chattanooga, Tenn. A city stages a comeback fueled by artists and retailers. In 1969, Walter Cronkite famously called Chattanooga the “dirtiest” city in America. In recent years, though, it has undergone a dramatic overhaul with a radical gentrification plan and an aggressive citywide push to lure artists. In addition to a $120 million clean-up-and-invest 21st Century Waterfront Plan, an incentive program called Arts Move brings artists of all mediums into town; a yearly Southern arts fair called Four Bridges draws thousands each April; and several arts districts have been cultivated and nurtured. On the heels of this artistic transformation has come the inevitable, yet not unwelcome, boutique boom in places like the recently restored Warehouse Row, a Civil War-era factory turned shopping center filled with local, upscale and artisanal goods. SARAH WILDMAN 26. Dakhla, Morocco In Morocco’s south, an arty hideaway. Slide Show Morocco’s cool crowd doesn’t want anyone else to discover this remote but strangely beautiful desert town on the Atlantic Coast of the Western Sahara, an area with a tumultuous history now governed by Morocco. On a 30-mile-long spit of sand between the ocean and a tranquil lagoon about 600 miles south of Marrakesh, the town is becoming one of the world’s greatest wind- and kite-board surfing destinations. But there’s more to Dakhla than high-flying fun. Many come for its fledgling bohemian status: it’s a wild, remote, sun-drenched place with a freewheeling atmosphere and plenty of local Tuareg culture. Water temperatures remain a constant 80 degrees year-round, the desert is a short trek away, and the locally caught seafood is delicious. Sleepy during the day thanks to the often intense Saharan heat, the town comes alive after dark with lively cafes and restaurants. Dakhla also finally has a place for nonbackpackers: the Calipau Sahara hotel, a modern riad that opened two years ago, with a long stretch of private beach and a seawater pool. And although part of Dakhla’s charm is its relative inaccessibility, Royal Air Maroc offers daily flights from Casablanca. ALEXANDER LOBRANO 27. Maldives A cushy place for hard-core surfers? Here it is. When one thinks of the Maldives, a necklace of 26 tropical atolls in the Indian Ocean, one might envision $2,000 suites on stilts over turquoise waters and honeymooners dining barefoot on the beach. But world-class surfers? Not so much. Think again. “It’s ideal,” said Ross Phillips, founder of Tropicsurf, a leading outfitter in the high-end surfing scene. “Good, consistent waves, warm water, a wide choice of five-star resorts and plenty of things to do for the partners who don’t surf.” This past summer six world champion surfers headed to the Maldives for what was billed as the world’s most exclusive surfing event: Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, which was held at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa resort. Early 2012 will see several new splashy resorts, like the Niyama, which has an underwater restaurant, and the Viceroy, 66 villas on the remote private island of Vagaru. GISELA WILLIAMS 28. Malacca, Malaysia A World Heritage site ramps up its tourism options. Slide Show With its lantern-lighted canals and silent, narrow streets lined with decades-old ornate temples and shop houses, few places in Southeast Asia conjure romantic images of the past as effectively as Malacca, Malaysia’s oldest city. A former Portuguese, Dutch and British colony, this Unesco World Heritage site is now attracting record numbers of tourists lured by its unusual architecture and cuisine, which reflect centuries of foreign influences. More than seven million visitors are expected in 2011, so the town, about 90 miles southeast of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is welcoming new hotels like the Casa del Rio, a Portuguese-inspired luxury boutique property with 66 rooms; and Courtyard@Heeren, a 100-year-old shop house converted into a 14-room hotel. When you’re not exploring places like the 17th-century former Dutch town hall or Jonker Street’s antiques shops, gorge on Malacca’s outstanding local specialties, like creamy, piquant nyonya laksa at the family-run Donald & Lily’s. NAOMI LINDT 29. The Algarve Portugal’s Riviera gets a new spate of luxury hotels. The Algarve, on Portugal’s southern coast, has long been a major package-holiday destination for northern Europeans. But the sun-drenched region is aiming to attract a wider crowd as it recycles itself with a crop of new or renovated luxury hotels emphasizing style, authenticity and eco-friendliness. In Portimão, a perfect example is the just reopened 38-room Hotel Bela Vista. This 1918 villa overlooking the famous seaside Praia da Rocha was renovated by the French hotelier Thierry Naidu and features a stunning design by the Portuguese decorator Graça Viterbo. There are hotels opening in quieter areas of the Algarve, too, including the striking Martinhal resort in Sagres, and a Conrad hotel scheduled to open in November. Trendy Lisboans are also flocking to Olhão, a former fish-canning town turned resort with stylish lodging options, like the recently opened Real Marina Hotel & Spa, and natural attractions, including the Ria Formosa, a national park made up of one of the largest barrier-reef lagoons in Europe, where you might have the pristine beauty of white sand beaches to yourself — for now, at least. ALEXANDER LOBRANO 30. Tahoe, Calif. New lifts, lodging, trails and snowcat rides. Lake Tahoe’s seven major ski areas have been undergoing a dizzying slate of improvements that will eventually tally at least $100 million. Most notable is Squaw Valley’s November merger with adjacent Alpine Meadows; at 6,000 acres, it now offers the most ski terrain in the United States. Guests can take a free shuttle between base areas and will find, among other upgrades, new ski school services, expanded terrain parks, a kids’ snow-play area with mini-snowmobiles, and new restaurants, including Rocker @ Squaw, a burger joint where skiers can upload their own helmet-cam videos to TV. Improvements at Northstar, recently acquired by Vail Resorts, include a quad chairlift and an on-mountain restaurant with stellar views of the Pacific Crest. Advanced skiers can explore 170 acres of new gladed terrain or hop a snowcat to ski the Sawtooth Ridge. Likewise, Sierra-at-Tahoe introduced snowcat rides to Huckleberry Canyon. Kirkwood renovated its Mountain Club hotel and Heavenly added three trails, a children’s ski school center and a kids’ trail. CINDY HIRSCHFELD 31. Wales A new hiking path brings new views of rugged shores. Wales’s many hiking trails are known for their views of rugged highlands and cliff-hemmed coasts. Exploring the country by foot will become easier in May, when the Wales Coast Path is completed, connecting several disparate paths and creating a 1,030-mile pedestrian route that rings the country. The Wales Coast Path — which in stretches will be open to cyclists and horseback riders — follows the Atlantic and the Irish Sea over the length of the country, passing medieval castles and threading through cities including Cardiff and seaside resort towns like Tenby. While few will have the legs to tackle the entire trail, outfitters including Celtic Trails and Contours Walking Holidays lighten the load by offering inn-to-inn luggage shuttles over several portions of the long distance path. ELAINE GLUSAC 32. Antarctica Still remote and exotic. Now luxurious too. A hundred years ago the race to the South Pole held the world in thrall — poor Robert Falcon Scott lost the title as the first man there, by a month, to the Norwegian Roald Amundsen, and died on his way back through the unforgiving landscape. The 100-year anniversary of the arrival of these rugged explorers is a reminder of our continued fascination with a region that remains in many ways as remote, exotic and evocative as it ever was. White Desert is marking the event with a new camp that allows travelers to spend the night in accommodations that Amundsen and Scott could only have dreamed of: fiberglass pods with en-suite bathrooms, dressing rooms and comfy beds. During the day, groups (limited to 12 ) pass the time ice climbing, abseiling through open crevasses, kite skiing and visiting colonies of Emperor penguins. Another way to see the icy scapes is by ship: Abercrombie & Kent’s Le Boreal, for example, can navigate some of the smaller fjords and has onboard experts who lecture on everything from wildlife to the history of the region. Luckily though, the number of overall visitors will remain restricted, guaranteeing, it is hoped, at least another 100 years of relative isolation and pristine wilderness. ONDINE COHANE 33. Uganda Stability and sustainable tourism restore luster to Africa’s pearl. Marred by the murderous regime of Idi Amin in the 1970s, Uganda remained largely off the typical African safari tour map. But after more than two decades of relative stability under President Yoweri Museveni, the country that Winston Churchill called the “pearl of Africa” is regaining some of its allure for tourists. While Uganda has not been without problems, including twin bombings in Kampala during the 2010 World Cup, some street clashes during political protests last year and a history of extreme antagonism toward gay people, it’s still considered one of the more stable countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The country is perhaps best known to tourists as the home of half of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, and this year there are more opportunities to spot the elusive creatures. The Uganda Wildlife Authority recently added two gorilla families to the groups it tracks on tours in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a Unesco World Heritage site in southwest Uganda. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, a luxury tented camp inside the forest, is working with the Batwa Pygmy tribe, indigenous hunter-gatherers who were relocated when the park was established, to share their history and culture with guests. And Country Walkers , based in Waterbury, Vt., is offering its first safari ever in Uganda. Beyond up-close gorilla encounters, Uganda is also the source of the Nile, boasts mountains that are among the highest in Africa — the Mountains of the Moon in Rwenzori Mountains National Park — and offers formidable white-water rapids for thrill seekers. MICHELLE HIGGINS 34. Ukraine Virginal beaches and czarist palaces — at Old World prices. Ukraine has finally seen an influx of much-needed cash to fund its long underdeveloped tourism sector, in part thanks to its selection as host of the 2012 Union of European Football Associations European Championship. Beautiful, historic cities like Kiev, Odessa and Lviv have seen modernization, restoration and fresh cultural energy, but are still cheap, laid-back and largely free of tourist traps. All three cities have revamped their airports and added numerous hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, while new roadwork makes travel outside the city centers easier and more comfortable. Beach lovers are well advised to head to the Black Sea coast, which extends along the Crimean Peninsula to Odessa. Long a popular beach destination for Russians, the area has slowly begun attracting a wider audience with its pristine beaches, mild climate, jutting cliffs and architectural marvels. CHARLY WILDER 35. Samaná Peninsula, Dominican Republic Unspoiled beaches, but not for long. For years, the Samaná Peninsula on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic was one of the Caribbean’s remaining natural holdouts, largely untouched because of its remote location. But an international airport, El Catey, built near the peninsula’s base a few years ago and, more recently, a highway that shortened the drive from Santo Domingo to two hours from five, are bringing new development. Balcones del Atláantico, a RockResort that opened last May in the village of Las Terrenas, is the newest luxury resort on the peninsula. Its 86 two- and three-bedroom villas start at $500 a night, supplying a cushy base from which to explore ecotourism. The Peninsula House, a plantation-style estate with just six suites from $580 a night, was named a 2011 Grand Award winner by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report. And Auberge Resort’s’ Casa Tropicalia , with 44 beachfront suites and an open-air spa on Samaná Bay, is to open in 2014. There are plenty of off-resort attractions, too. Just last month, Bravaro Runners, an adventure tour operator, opened a new zip-line tour consisting of 20 platforms and 10 zip-lines. Go now, before the crowds arrive. MICHELLE HIGGINS 36. Dubrovnik, Croatia The St.-Tropez of the Balkans, equal parts classic and modern. « PREVIOUS PAGE 1 The 45 Places to Go in 2012 Published: January 6, 2012 RECOMMEND TWITTER LINKEDIN COMMENTS (177) E-MAIL PRINT SINGLE PAGE REPRINTS SHARE (Page 4 of 4) The last five years have been good to Dubrovnik: as it has opened to Western tourists, its number of visitors has climbed steadily — around 10 percent a year — since the global recession hit in 2008. Often called the Jewel of the Adriatic, this seaside city features marble streets, Renaissance fountains and white sand beaches. It has also recently completed an expansion of its airport and a sleek renovation of its cable car system, offering improved city access and views. Slide Shows Slide Show Where to Go in 2012 Slide Show Chiloé Island, Chile Slide Show Dakhla, Morocco Slide Show San Diego Slide Show Moganshan, China Slide Show Portovenere, Italy Slide Show Koh Rong, Cambodia Slide Show Malacca, Malaysia Slide Show Halong Bay, Vietnam Slide Show Paraty, Brazil GRAPHIC: How the Dollar Travels Readers’ Comments Share your thoughts. Post a Comment » Read All Comments (177) » Meanwhile, local hoteliers compete to capture the growing stream of high-end tourists, with the 17th-century Pucic Palace , the upscale Excelsior Hotel & Spa and the gorgeous clifftop Villa Dubrovnik all seeing extensive renovations in the last few years. Newer culinary draws include the French-fusion spot Gil’s, the two-year-old Panorama and Lucin Kantun, a Croatian tapas restaurant that opened last year in the Old Town. CHARLY WILDER 37. Chiloé Island, Chile A new look, and controversy, on the edge of South America. Slide Show Just off the west coast of Chile, where the land starts to look as if it had been broken apart by a jackhammer, Chiloé Island — known for its stilt houses, Unesco-anointed churches , nature preserves, unusual wildlife and raw natural beauty — is getting a facelift. Until recently, the 3,200-square-mile island was mainly a respite for locals. But President Sebastián Piñera has plans to share the island with the rest of the world. The Chilean government has started pouring billions of pesos into the island’s infrastructure and the results are already evident: new paved roads, a new ferry terminal and the soon-to-open Mocopulli Airport in the town of Castro, which will offer direct flights to Santiago. The Chilean power company Ecopower has plans to build a 56-turbine wind farm, which is expected to produce triple the island’s power needs. Once construction begins, however, the island could lose many of its migratory birds, penguins and endangered blue whales, environmental groups have cautioned. In other words, the time to go is now. DANIELLE PERGAMENT 38. Jordan New flights and a new modernist airport ease the way for visitors. It might seem foolhardy for an airline to add a Middle East destination just as much of the Arab world is in political turmoil. But the airline is easyJet, known for its forays into unexpected markets, and the country is Jordan, which has mostly been spared the kind of protests that have toppled leaders elsewhere. Why get on board? Starting this summer, travelers will be able to disembark at the new state-of-the-art terminal of Queen Alia airport. Designed by Sir Norman Foster using desert and Middle Eastern motifs, the building is a fitting welcome to a country that is trying to modernize while maintaining its natural beauty and traditions. From there, head to the infinity pool of the new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba. It’s a soothing way to wind down after a camel expedition through the Mars-like landscape of nearby Wadi Rum, a 285-square-mile expanse of desert punctuated by wind-eroded rock formations. The region — “vast, echoing and God-like,” in the words of Lawrence of Arabia — was named a Unesco World Heritage site last year. SETH SHERWOOD 39. Crans-Montana, Switzerland Restaurants and luxury chalets shine a light on an Alpine resort. Surprisingly few international tourists visit Crans-Montana, favoring better-known Alpine resorts like Zermatt and Verbier to see and be seen. But with its upmarket designer shops, five-star hotels, Michelin-starred dining and 87 miles of downhill slopes, the word is getting out. Perched high above the Rhone Valley in western Switzerland on a sunny, south-facing plateau, the two-town resort offers panoramic views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. With more than 250 boutiques, 60 restaurants and 30 hotels, Crans-Montana isn’t lacking for après-ski activities. And new flights from the charter airline Snowjet from London Stansted to Sion airport, about 19 miles from the resort, are making it easier to be on the slopes within an hour of stepping off the plane. Abercrombie & Kent Villas, a division of the luxury tour company, has taken notice, adding the destination to its collection of luxury ski chalets this season. Weekly rental rates at one of its five 2,700-square-foot chalets, each featuring a Jacuzzi and wine cellar, start at 3,936 euros (about $5,085) for a four-bedroom. The mountain resort is also celebrated for being the host of the Omega European Masters, among Europe’s largest golf events, every September at one of the highest 18-hole golf courses in the Alps, the Severiano Ballesteros. Last year, the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club opened the first year-round high-altitude European golf training center so avid duffers can practice their swing despite the snow. MICHELLE HIGGINS 40. Montpellier, France France’s eighth-largest city is dressing up in designer style. The most celebrated architect in France, Jean Nouvel, and a collaborator, François Fontès, introduced their blue and cube-like city hall in November, and early next year Mr. Nouvel’s RBC Design Center — another coolly modernist structure that will house the RBC brand’s furniture showroom — is to open its doors in this medieval, student-filled Mediterranean city. Even more innovative, the long-awaited Pierres Vives Building from the star architect Zaha Hadid will be ready by year’s end. A long, sprawling edifice of swirly white concrete layers and green-tinted glass, the futuristic structure will hold a library, archives and municipal offices. And to reach them, the city is installing what may be Europe’s sexiest tram system. The two existing lines sport exteriors of kaleidoscopic birds and flowers by Christian Lacroix, and two new lines with Mr. Lacroix’s trademark color-soaked style are on their way. Both will make their debut this spring with an underwater design theme and a solar theme, respectively, along roughly 17 miles of new track. Think of it as France’s longest fashion runway. SETH SHERWOOD 41. Nosara, Costa Rica Surfing geeks have descended on a remote little town. With sandy beaches, warm, jade-green waters and rolling waves that rarely get too big, the remote jungle community of Nosara on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has become the ideal spot to learn to surf. The crescent-shaped Guiones beach is a good jumping-off point to go hiking or visit the nearby turtle refuge, and there are small, charming hotels and local bars with live music. But in a place that sees sunny, rainless weather from December to May, surfing’s the thing. Surf schools have popped up all over town, including Surf Simply, which focuses on a technical, sports-coach philosophy and has a new guided trip option along the coast for its 2012 surf programs, and Safari Surf School , an official Billabong-certified surf camp. Nosara Surf Cam offers a real-time Web feed of the waves. Take a look and get your stoke on. BONNIE TSUI 42. South Korea Is golf’s newest hot spot in Asia? South Korea is redefining just how luxurious golf resorts can be. A slew of new private clubs — the kind with six-digit membership fees, designs by celebrity architects and clubhouses that look like modern art museums — have opened recently in the country. The most prestigious is Haesley Nine Bridges, just outside Seoul, with a clubhouse covered by a huge, sinuous web of wooden beams (it also features one of Jeff Koons’s giant balloon toy sculptures). Then there’s the Ananti Club, also a commuter’s distance from Seoul: 486 acres containing three courses nestled in the Yumyeongsan forest, with a clubhouse, designed by the architect Ken Min, built almost entirely underground. And the futuristic Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, which opened last year in the financial center of Songdo, has a huge, undulating clubhouse designed by the California architect Mehrdad Yazdani. In 2015, South Korea will be the host of the Presidents Cup for the first time; apparently there are some tournament-worthy courses to go with all those fancy new clubhouses. DANIELLE PERGAMENT 43. Lodz, Poland The Hollywood of Poland reclaims its industrial past. Poland’s third-largest city and the movie-making headquarters of the country (with a film school that started the careers of Roman Polanski and Andrzej Wajda), Lodz has seen its labyrinth of textile warehouses and industrial-era relics repurposed for artistic and entrepreneurial ventures. The latest is by the director David Lynch, who has a deal to establish a major film studio in a former 19th-century power plant in the city. Its makeover — which will also include a planetarium, a library, an exhibition space and a theater — is scheduled to be shown to the public in 2014. Additionally, the architect Frank Gehry, whose grandparents were from Lodz, is in talks to design a festival and congress center with an avant-garde, building-block shape. These ventures will be in good company. One Lodz weaving mill is now a retail and entertainment center called Manufaktura, while another, Ms2, is a three-year-old contemporary art museum filled with experimental leanings. A 19th-century industrial complex has been reborn as an art incubator, Lodz Art Center, that is the host of lectures and festivals. RACHEL B. DOYLE 44. Dalarna, Sweden A storied region offers a getaway from Stockholm. Most travelers know Sweden only for the urban cool of Stockholm and Gothenburg. But when the sun approaches its summer apex, city dwellers often leave town for one of the country’s central provinces, Dalarna. Its deep forests and glimmering lakes host traditional midsummer parties, and every brick-red farmhouse deserves its own postcard. With Dalarna’s southern edge only about 125 miles from the capital, getting there — by car, bus or rail — is easy enough, though the rustic landscape of “the Dales,” as Dalarna translates, can feel worlds apart. That’s made it a natural respite for Swedish painters like Anders Zorn, whose home in the town of Mora is now a museum. Artisans still produce traditional handicrafts like the Dala Horse, a national mascot. But Dalarna is not just for summer journeys: every March, the region hosts the Vasaloppet, one of the world’s biggest cross-country ski races, and autumn brings incredible foliage and rich game dishes at restaurants of surprising sophistication like the Dala-Husby Hotell. EVAN RAIL 45. Portovenere, Italy Stepping in while the Cinque Terre rebuilds. Slide Show In late October, torrential rain caused catastrophic mudslides and flooding that devastated Monterosso and Vernazza, two of the cliff-clinging, seaside villages in the famed Cinque Terre on Italy’s northwestern coast. Though the towns are slowly being rebuilt, travelers seeking the pleasures of the area in 2012 should instead consider Portovenere, an equally charming, though largely overlooked, town just south of the Cinque Terre. Like its more famous neighbors, Portovenere is a traditional fishing village with a picturesque jumble of pastel houses, boats bobbing in the harbor and a network of meandering hiking trails. But here, crowds are sparse, so poke around the 13th-century, black-and-white striated church in peace, before marveling at the views across the glittering Bay of La Spezia, which has long inspired poets and writers, from Lord Byron to D.H. Lawrence. INGRID K. WILLIAMS Thank you for your submission. We'll notify you at pe***@gmail.com when your comment has been approved. Peter BurgessNew York NY and Poconos PA During my career I have been to many of these places. The world is a beautiful and wonderful place and I love travel. But I wonder how many places of great beauty and wonder are within 100 miles of where each of us lives ... Can any of us list 45 of such places? How many of these places have we visited and taken the children? If not ... why not? Mark SimmelkjaerNew York City Sounds like a diverse geoup of places - I would like to go to Brazil but I am concerned with overall safety. Mark Simmelkjaer Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:11 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND TrishGlasgow, Scotland Great to see Glasgow at a well-deserved #12 on the must see in 2012 list. I couldn't agree more and in hope that this entices people to explore this fantastic, eclectic and energetic city - boasting history, culture, adventure andsome of the most friendly excellent people on the planet. It's a truly wonderful place with a lot to offer. And if you want to learn more, check out this fantastic blog dedicated to revealing all things great Glasgow one post at a time: http://aboutacityglasgow.wordpress.com/ Enjoy! Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:11 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND ColePhiladelphia, PA Do visit Jordan, but don't stay at the Double Tree - the infinity pool mentioned is about the size of an average screen porch, and the Double Tree is the only upmarket hotel without its own beach club. I smell a PR placement! Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND JanSacramento So far there is no snow in Tahoe, just man-made snow. Check the snow level before you book a ski trip there. Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND J.G. Wentworthsanta cruz There are some bad ideas in this list. Oakland, CA , Birmingham England, Antarctica? No thanks NYTimes. Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Ana FigueroaLos Angeles It's great to see more tour operators including Ha Long Bay on their itineraries, but your readers should also know that this remarkable spot has long been a fixture of cruise ship itineraries, as well. Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND SusanH.Philadelphia, PA My thoughts exactly! It's as if the news side of the Times and the travel and arts side are not integrated. It's not enough to say that Uganda is bad on gays. When our Secretary of State is saying that we should not be sending foreign aid, the NY Times should not be telling people to take their tourism dollars there either. It's offensive and stupid. Jan. 9, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3 miketOakland, Ca. - Aventura Miami Fl Lived in the Berkeley Hills for over 3 decades. Oakland was, until about 10 years ago, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein's old quote 'there's no there, there.' Since then, major improvements. We now live 1/2 time in the 'uptown' area, which has really become a happening place. There is a huge Korean market across the street - with foods I've never seen before. (Don't know what they arr, can't read Korean.) As others have mentioned, the violent crime, like in many cities, is concentrated in relatively small areas. Yes, there are harmless homeless people on the fringes of this area. The drug deals that go down have drastically gone down - and these are not threatening or even noticeable to most people. (Marijuana can be legally bought here.) All that said - I don't think Oakland or San Diego or any other U.S. City belongs on the same list as Myanmar or London. Jan. 9, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Rishi SankarTrinidad & Toronto I do love Panama. There is an awesome mix of people, places and fun. It's also so much cheaper than many other places ... and you can have the mix of beaches, sightseeing and good food here too. http://www.rishiray.com/2010/08/27/a-trini-a-thai-and-a-russian-walk-up-... Jan. 9, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND magedCairo, Egypt Egypt is much more then the peramids. for those who think that egypt is currently unstable destination...may i suggest they browse the following wonderfull places: 1- MarsaAlam a facinating unspoilt red sea heaven favoured by those who seek scuba and diving and sun worship. 2-Aswan the dearm vacation on the nile with proximity to AbuSimbel and other ancient tempels. 3-the Oaises deep in the desert for those who seek soltitude among the dunes (there are 4 major Oaises). 4-Elgouna a very modern beach resort favoured by young tourists. all the above destinations are very safe and would be fantastic this time of the year till perhaps May when it becomes warmer. happy vacations maged refaat Jan. 9, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Jen in AstoriaAstoria, NY Staycation in NYC, folks! Take the $1500 or so you'd spend on airfare (we're not even talking about hotel expenses here) and do a 4-day weekend blowout (Fri thru Monday, use those vacation days). Go to that 'one outrageously expensive' restaurant on your list. Go buy that whacky designer nail polish/perfume at Barney's. See a Broadway show or opera with orchestra seats, not nosebleed. Take taxis wherever and whenever you want; explore the outer boros and go on an 'exotic' ingredient shopping spree. Book a massage at a spa. Go window shopping in parts of town that you usually don't. Eat lunch out at a place with cloth napkins and have a cocktail. Go to the Bronx Zoo and take lots of pictures, and be there in time to feed the seals. Even if you did all of the above, you still would have some of your original money stack left. Jan. 9, 2012 at 11:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3 dzlos angeles ca In my mind, what makes some place great to visit is decidedly NOT that it just built a new waterfront, a new batch of luxury hotels, or a new crop of upscale restaurants. In fact, the bland ubiquity of newness is a major turnoff. Jan. 9, 2012 at 11:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 MichaelBirmingham U.K Hello from Birmingham UK, wonderful to be on the list! Another reason to visit in 2012 - Birmingham will be host to the USA Olympic Team for the games! Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:29 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 LPhnom Penh, Cambodia Your fact checkers were asleep on the job. The Koh Rong 'archipelago' have had Western-owned accommodation on them for many years -- to say that Song Saa is the first place to stay on the islands is just wrong. Song Saa isn't even on Koh Rong! On Koh Rong there are 6 different accommodations that have been open for over a year, and one, Paradise, that has been open for years. The photo series claims that the 'main' island is 30 minutes from Sihanoukville --which one is that, the imaginary one? The closest island with accommodation is Koh Russei and is an hour from shore, and the boat pictured goes to Koh Rong which is 2.5 hours from shore. You include a picture of Serendipity Beach and say it's on Koh Rong -- it's not. It's on the shore in Sihanoukville. You say small restaurants are scattered all over Koh Rong -- they aren't. In these three short paragraphs and the photo essay I count half a dozen inaccuracies. Perhaps having a writer in Berlin covering an island in Cambodia wasn't the best decision. Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:29 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 John DolanBirmingham UK NY friends are welcome in Birmingham. When you come also remember Bournville, home of Cadbury chocolate, another historic British brand. The Cadbury housing area, now Bournville Village Trust, is a delightful conservation area (important in history of housing) with parks, walks, local shops, deli, cafe and (the city's first) organic butchers - all also mentioned in the BBC Olive magazine. Till soon.... Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Roger PrestonSolihull England Yes! Birmingham is England's second largest city,but not only is it possibly one of the the best to eat but also shop, be entertained and do business. It has one of the world's finest concert halls,Symphony Hall,with a world class orchestra in residence,the CBSO and Andris Nelsons as its Music Director. The 1834 Town Hall hosted all the 'greats' in music and national life - Mendelssohn,Dvorak,Sibelius,Boulez,J.Strauss,Basie,Ellington,Queen Victoria and all the Prime Ministers and many more up to the present day. Conference and Exhibition facilities are second to none. All in all a 'Place to Go in 2012' or any other year ! Let's see you Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Jim SpearBeijing Florence -- Ossi di Seppia is evidently out of business. Emails returned and when I asked concierge at my hotel to make reservations there on upcoming trip he advised the restaurant is closed. Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Global TravelerBocas del toro We have retired to Bocas del Toro and felt that you gave only part of the story about this beautiful island. Yes, there are many backpackers and young people but it has also become a retirement area for Americans and people from other countries. there is a large ex-pat community here, living on the main island and also the many small islands close by. You can be as involved or as laid-back as you like. The cost of living is lower, the pace is slower and there is a lot of keep you busy. It is a great place to retire for the more adventure minded retiree! In fact, today there was a cruise ship in the harbour. Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Deon Dhaka A mere four southern hemisphere locations (2 in Chile and Antartica). How disjointed. Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 ReaderNY Is there a reason why Bali or Lombok was not mentioned in this article? I think its best deal for the money... Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 readerCalifornia If you come to Oakland, make sure you go to the Oakland Museum of California, walk the three mile shoreline of Lake Merritt, walk and shop for miles on College Avenue, go to Market Hall in Rockridge for a great foodie experience, go to the Chabot Observatory for their planetarium show, hike for miles on trails through the redwoods in the East Bay Regional Parks, go to Yoshi's Jazz Club, listen to the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, go to the Grand Lake Farmer's Market on Saturday morning and walk up Lakeshore. Yes, Oakland has problems but it is a beautiful city. If you are a runner, come for the third annual Oakland Marathon in March. Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3 Sarah Piedmont, CA Yes, I agree completely! I was quite surprised but happy to see Oakland near the top of this list. For anyone interested in doing the Oakland Marathon--or simply wanting to run/hike around Oakland and enjoy what it has to offer-- you might like to read my blog post, '26 Reasons to Visit and Run Oakland (And Love It)' http://www.therunnerstrip.com/2011/03/26-reasons-to-visit-and-run-oaklan... Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.RECOMMEND Dennis del CastilloLima, Peru What about the Amazon? It is also a fantastic place to visit!!! Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 M. McGuireSan Leandro, CA Like Walker77 to the north, I live in a neighboring city to Oakland, but on its south, and I work in downtown Oakland. I'd caution visitors about ordinary street crime in downtown and the now-hyped Uptown, which has gone back to its normal levels after Occupy was run out of downtown. Occupy, if anything, kept street crime down by populating downtown after dark, and the only violence against people there was by the police against the demonstrators. Oakland has four times the homicide rate of nearby San Francisco, so, 'take normal urban precautions' is especially useful advice. Though, some residential areas do have far more trouble than downtown. Despite City Hall's efforts to hype Uptown (they see its overpriced bars as especially attractive to well-off visitors) the best restaurants in Oakland are in other parts of town: Rockridge, affluent but with sporadic safety issues, Fruitvale along International Boulevard, with real crime issues alongside fabulous food, and nearer to downtown, the Grand Lake area, also with sporadic safety issues. Walker77 modestly didn't mention his own city of Berkeley for having probably the best restaurants overall on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Oakland, despite its problems, is perhaps ironically a better place to live or work in than it is to visit. Locals take local precautions and enjoy local attractions that rarely turn up in articles like these, not being nearly trendy enough. Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 LarryPortland For Beer come to Portland OR (Not San Diego), they have a beer festival / tasting page in the local news paper's Friday entertainment section listing something going on almost every week, or just go to some of the local breweries or good bar/restaurant. And breweries (Deschutes, Widmer, Blue Heron, Full Sail, McMenamins, Lucky Lab, Rogue Ales, MACTARNAHAN'S BREWING CO, BridgePort Brewing etc. ) I have been thinking of going to San Diego as a winter get away, but it is a bit pricey. The recommended hotels are hardly budget options for beer drinkers! But I would visit the zoo, ocean, eating spots, plenty of good beer, if I could find a good reasonable deal in a good location not over run by drug dealers. Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Ricardo Arriaza VegaEl Salvador I feel so proud of this recognition to Panama. A cosmopolitan place with an interesting cultural and historic diversity. Besides its rich nature and special location in the middle of the Americas. Now is the time for Central America! Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 ChristinaFresno, CA I think some people are being way too critical about this list. If you wanted a list of something generically entertaining, I'm sure you can contact your local travel agency for your nearest amusement park. Living in California, I was excited to see Oakland listed here along with other creative and sometimes forgotten places of interest. I think it's time to plan a roadtrip. Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND TF Oakland Oakland's been my home for 5 years. This city has amazing arts and culture, definitely alternative and lots of it underground but it's become a sort of arts and food incubator for the whole Bay and that's worth checking out! Yes, there are some dangerous neighborhoods, but San Francisco, Richmond, basically everywhere in the Bay has those. I have visitors all the time who come stay with us, they usually start out hitting the sights in San Fran but want to come back to Oakland for dinner and going out...I guess it depends what you like! Apart from the Mission, San Fran feels like an upscale design-themed retirement community to me. Oakland's where the best Bay stuff happens. Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND TLL MA It seems that fairly soon the entire planet will have been designated a 'UNESCO Word Heritage Site.' Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 Chris Berkeley, California Uganda? Oh puhleeze! NYT is really trying hard to enlarge its gay readership. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9 bee bee ldz 43. Lodz 'A 19th-century industrial complex has been reborn as an art incubator, Lodz Art Center (...)' The renovation work hasn't started yet. The incubator is simply called Art Inkubator / http://artinkubator.com/en/. The project is coordinated by Fabryka Sztuki (Art Factory), Lodz Art Center is just one of the partners. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND ckColorado It would be more responsible of the NYT to mention potential issues for gay travelers. For example, Uganda's government is passing a law outlawing homosexuality. The hold up in the law is whether it should punishable by death or by 5 years in prison. I agree that the emphasis on expensive hotels makes the article somewhat unhelpful for the 99 percent. Perhaps your travel articles could be classed by $$$, $$, $, like restaurants often are classified. Once you get your ticket, there are a lot of places where camping is a cheap and beautiful option. It's how many Europeans travel, for example, so you would meet real people. I'm not giving away my favorite places, I'd just like to tell my fellow Americans that because of the wide spread use of inversion hot water heaters, it's even possible to get nice hot showers in relatively remote places (as remote as you can get in Europe, anyways). Finally, one does not have to be an adventure traveler to do a fair amount of traveling and sight seeing via bike. Options include having a base of operations and seeing the area around that base. Using local rail can extend your reach. Or you can travel via bike to new locations. I've never used a service that carries your gear, but I have mailed my gear ahead. Happy travels. But likely not guided by this particular NYT article. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 AMCalifornia Credibility is like a chain - it is as strong as its weakest link. Listing Oakland as a global 'place to go' casts into doubt the credibility of your entire paper. (Let me elaborate: even here in the Bay Area, Oakland is a 'place to avoid' for most of us.) Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 Lorri Arazi Oakland The hundreds of visitors to Oakland's monthly Art Murmur would disagree with you, as would the folks from the City, Marin County, the Peninsula, and Contra Costa who are flocking to our restaurants, nightclubs, and performing arts venues. And, if what you say were true, why do you suppose so many top SF chefs would be risking reputation and pocketbook to open mutiple eateries here? Oakland is experiencing a veritable renaissance in the midst of the worst economic environment most of us has ever seen! Jan. 8, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.RECOMMEND1 cgzgunOakland I moved to Oakland from SF 7 years ago, probably for similar reasons that many people move to Brooklyn from Manhattan: they need more space and can't afford the high rents but want to live in a place with an urban feel and diversity. I live next to the Uptown neighborhood, walk to the train every day, and have never had an incident happen, but have definitely seen about 2 dozen restaurants and bars open in the neighborhood in the last few years, and young people coming from all over the bay for shows at the Paramount and the Fox, both lovingly restored beautiful art deco theaters. Most of the crime in Oakland, as in most big cities such as NY, is concentrated in a few areas, and being street smart is important, as it is in NY. Usually people who are scared to come to Oakland are from the very bland, very uniform suburbs around the Bay Area, and 'I'm scared to go to Oakland' is usually code for 'I'm scared of minorities'. If you're young (or young at heart), adventurous and street smart, you will love Oakland. Jan. 9, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.RECOMMEND Rishi SankarTrinidad & Toronto Oakland? Seriously ... I was in San Francisco this weekend and no one I know would ever recommend Oakland as a place to go. Are you really saying that people should leave San Fran, San Jose or anywhere else to go to Oakland? I'm sure that there are good things about Oakland, but not at the expense of leaving San Fran for a second. Jan. 9, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.RECOMMEND Nancy ElyOakland, CA Are you KIDDING ME? Oakland? This is my 38th year as a homeowner in Oakland. I've raised my children here and have been a social worker here. At this point, with the rampant crime, I'm afraid to even drive my car through downtown Oakland! Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6 AJChattanooga, TN Chattanooga?! Seriously?! I am an artist who lives in Chattanooga and while it is an alright place to live, I would never recommend it as a tourist stop for anyone who lives more than 100 miles away. If you like PBR, Blue Grass music, and beards, you'll fit right in. We have one or two really good coffee shops, but if you hang out in them, chances are you'll have to listen to constant conversations regarding biblical scripture and missions. The aquarium here is a joke. They keep the penguins in an 8x15 glass room. The arts move is just an excuse to try and get artists to move here so they can buy houses in one of the most run down and dangerous neighborhoods in town. In fact, one of the more well known galleries in that district was robbed at gunpoint last year. We have one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country. There have been at least 2 gang related shootings in the tourist district downtown in the last 6 months. I won't even try to show my art here, opting instead to live here for the low cost of living and travel the country doing national art fairs. Most of the so called artists here are doing cheap acrylic paintings of dogs or crosses on plywood paintings and are what I would call want-to-be folk artists. Any artist who wants to make a decent living, gain a serious reputation, or just receive the kind of support for doing really challenging work would be wise to look elsewhere. I'm not saying there aren't any good artists here, just few and far between. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 MolangeBangkok I understand that it is near impossible to please everyone with a list of 45 must visit places. I think that the list is interesting and varied. But. Let's switch up Uganda with Rwanda. Let's not promote tourism in a country that is so blatantly against human rights. In Rwanda you will meet wonderful people, be amazed by beautiful landscapes and you an have an amazing Gorilla encounter. You also don't have to fear for your life as a gay. Boycott Uganda, go to Rwanda. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 Norma LeeNew York I just returned from Iran, yes folks Iran..Everyone on the trip agreed that this was not the country they had expected.it is totally safe, the people weres so happy to meet Americans and kept pulling us into conversations..What you think of Iran? Where do you Live? Please tell Americans we want to be friends. If you want to be a citizen diplomat,add your voice to helping bridge the gap,This company will take care of all your visas,hotels,guides & incredible meals. www.irancustomtravel.com Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 NicholasSan Francisco Yes, I too work in Oakland, and must point out that the 19th St. area with all the restaurants is not the lawless gangland everyone seems to think it is. Oakland is like any other city in that respect -- some parts are more dangerous than others. I have several female friends who live in that area, and they feel comfortable walking around at night. That said, there isn't so much happening in Oakland that you need to fly across the country to check it out. I like Oakland a lot (it has the sort of relationship to San Francisco that Brooklyn had to Manhattan in the late 1990s), but I can't see a tourist needing more than a weekend to see Oakland, although of course San Francisco is right over the bridge. I'm not too worried about tourists clogging up Hawker Fare just yet (or that fine beer establishment that shall remain nameless). Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3 MissingLinkToronto, Canada What an astoundingly shallow, culturally insensitive and globally ignorant article. Rather than exemplify some of the positive attributes of travel, this list epitomizes some of the very worst qualities of tourism. Just some of the things that made my mouth drop: -- Uganda, even though the country has advocated the lynching and execution of gays and lesbians -- Moscow, despite the recent history of violence against foreigners and tourists of colour -- Llasa and Myanmar, despite no guarantees that tourist dollars will support anything but an authoritarian regime that oppresses the local population -- Tokyo: 'Last year’s tragedy means more room for tourists'. I understand the sentiment (support a tourism industry that is currently sagging), but the wording of the subtitle is crude -- South Korea, for the golf?! As if the vibrant Korean people and their culture have nothing else to offer? -- Antartica and outer space: really? As others have pointed out, this travel list is meant only for the super-rich, white American male with no kids and no interests other than luxury westernized activities that can be done in a thousand other places back home. How about giving us a list of travel recommendations that don't make us feel dirty inside or fear for our lives? Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND14 JeffBH Viz. Lhasa, the Chinese government periodically makes travel there for Westerners logistically difficult or very expensive, and has been known to resort to requiring 'minders' to travel with you. Check carefully before you plan a trip there. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 AmericanproudBoston, MA The Algarve in southern Portugal is beautiful beyond description, much more so than places like the grecian islands, etc., but it's the Azores islands people should be visiting. I have yet to see anything comparable anywhere in terms of amenities, beauty both manmade (architecture, urban design) and natural (gorgeous bays, mountains and seas). The currency is the Euro but prices are reasonable and the people i found very attractive both physically and as hosts. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND ianwriternew york Uganda? Where there's a widely supported bill in parliament to allow execution of homosexuals? Uh, I dont think so. What were YOU thinking? Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 CulturevultureLondon The best thing about soulless Helsinki is that it has international departure lounges at its Airport. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 TomStockholm VIsitors to Dalarna Sweden who are intested in art might want to consider visiting the artist Carl Larsson's summer home 'Sundborn', also in Dalarna. Larsson has had a significant impact on Swedish interior design during the 1900's and many of his most recognizable paintings were done at Sundborn. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 RobertoAustralia (very quietly, as if from a great distance) Thanks Jen of Texas for noticing. Some continents got several mentions, and even Antarctica cracked it, but Australia misses out altogether! We must be too boring - no dictators, coups, nuclear accidents or starving peasants. Maybe if the list had run to 50 we might have featured. Ah well, maybe next year. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3 jfk. washington dc Jordan is often forgotten and many people know about Israel and have visited there. I'm a bit biased as I live in Jordan but all my friends and family who have come to visit were pleasantly surprised by the beauty and interesting sites in Jordan. They all said, 'We had no idea there was so much to Jordan.' And yes, it's perfectly safe; I drive all over the country by myself as a woman. There is also more to Jordan than Petra from the Dead Sea resorts to the Byzantine mosaics of Madaba, from eco tourism to snorkeling and diving in my hometown, Aqaba. Come on over! Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Bill in Beijing beijing Please do not go to Lhasa, folks, if you have any sort of conscience. You will be served in your luxury hotel by Han Chinese staff wearing fake Tibetan costumes, you will see performances of 'traditional Tibetan dance' that bears no resemblance to actual Tibetan traditions, your dollars will be funding the eradication of Tibetan culture and society by Han colonizers. Make no mistake about it; there is no ambiguity here. IOne can make a case that traveling to Myanmar is a way of supporting greater openness. Some will disagree, but there are grounds for both sides of that argument. In the case of Tibet there is no way to argue that traveling there is good for the Tibetan people. Staying away won't help the Tibetans either, because the Han Chinese are simply too strong and too determined to integrate Tibet fully into China. But at least you will not be personally supporting the lies that the Chinese tell to facilitate that agenda. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6 J-KOakland Really? Oakland? Have you been there? I have lived all over the bay area and visit Oakland often for business and while there are some ok places to eat and get a cocktail I honestly don’t know a single person that says 'hey! lets go to Oakland tonight for some great food and entertainment!'. This recommendation is laughable. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4 DTABay Area, CA Who ever put this list together clearly did not read today's article by Shoshana Walter, 'Shootings Soar in Oakland', #5 on the list. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 bobbSan Fran Oakland??? and right next to a most homicide city in 2010... major Quan wants her money back. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Walker77Berkeley, Ca. There are some politically questionable places on this list, notably Uganda and Myanmar. The list clearly doesn't reflect the editorial values of the New York Times, at times it seems to deliberately flout them. But I'm glad to see Oakland, the city next to mine, on the list. Being a high crime city has never, for better or for worse, disqualified a place from being a visitor destination. New Orleans and Miami are major visitor destinations and high crime cities. To the extent that visitors can bring more urban life to an area they can help reduce the crime with their presence on the streets. Additional sales tax and hotel tax revenue couldn't hurt Oakland either. But the reality is that there's not much overlap between visitors' Oakland and high crime Oakland. Mayor Quan has pointed out that a huge percentage of the crime occurs on only 100 blocks, a pattern which is generally true in American cities. Those blocks are not the blocks where visitors hang out, or where the trendy restaurants are. It's terrible that so many people get killed in Oakland, hopefully that number will continue to go down as it has been. But it's a tragedy for residents, not visitors. Do we want to tell visitors that the only place they should go is pristine upscale enclaves like Palo Alto, devoid of (on-street) crime? I don't think so. Come to Oakland, it's a great if often struggling city. Eat the food, drink the beer, learn about California at the Oakland Museum. You won't regret it. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4 Teddi BerkowitzFlorida I note your mention of Jordan in the Middle East. I am surprised that Israel was not mentioned in your list of 45. There are incredible sites to be seen in this country and the people, the history, the technology, etc are unparelleled. Jan. 7, 2012 at 10:48 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 BLBSan Francisco CA Regarding Oakland, the following is from another story on nytimes.com published Jan. 7, 2012. It's well and good to mention the good restaurants etc. but travelers should be aware of the facts identified in Shoshana Walter's piece: 'After several years of declining rates of violent crime in the Bay Area, Oakland shooting incidents increased dramatically in 2011. On an average day, five or six people were shot or shot at. The number of shootings is up 60 percent in the past five years, according to Urban Strategies Council, a crime analysis firm previously under a city contract.' Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 Anne-Marie RossOakland, CA Most of the shooting happens in places far from most of the restaurants. This does not mean I'm completely contradicting this writer's concerns; unemployment is very high and a lot of desperate people are doing plenty of desperate things.... and 80 cops were let go in 2011.. However I live here and pretty much walk wherever I want whenever I want, and have seen little crime, except for my car getting broken into. Jan. 7, 2012 at 10:48 p.m.RECOMMEND DJBay Area, CA #5 Oakland. I am sure you meant Auckland, NZ? Right. Because no way Oakland is even a top 5 destination in Northern California much less the world. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND1 MHOakland, CA This is happening right now: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19634501 Oakland is still a very dangerous city. I live here and disagree with the ranking, mostly because I am concerned for the safety of those traveling here. @Anne-Marie I wouldn't give the public a false impression of what it's like here. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND2 asiafilm taipei Exotic tourism, which is the focus of this article and most travel news, is for the estimated less than 1% of readers who have the money to be catered to, sightseeing on impoverished residents and majestic nature, while ignoring systemic corruption and terrorizing governments....Yes, all these 45 destinations are worth going to, although frequently for reasons other than those in the article. But how does one maintain humanistic ethics as a voyeur with nothing at stake except brief vacation pleasure and the right to safely brag back home? Travel is indeed a moral dilemma, although any consideration of that takes away the mindless fun. Tourism temporarily feeds hungry people, but permanently destroys their cultures and environment. Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:45 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND12 JosephChicago, IL Tokyo Last year’s tragedy means more room for tourists. I'm sure you don't mean this as it reads. Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND14 Unlearned HandFlyover Red State NYC, NY which has it all Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5 DarioExpat now in Spain Thanks for the article. I just don't understand why the articles focus so much on luxury resorts and hotels? Is the NY Times trying to appeal to the 1%? Or is it that these expensive resorts offer free visits to your authors so they feel compelled to write about them? Most people can't afford $600 a night suits. I hope people don't go anywhere just to stay at a hotel. Not on the list but I've liked a lot: Funchal, Cypress to get away from winter, Uzbekistan .. Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND17 BC Kelly Tallahassee Fla . 46. Red States, USA Get to know you Neighbors in America . If you're reading this article, and the NY Times, chances are you live in a 'Blue State'. Or at least have a 'more cosmopolitan and eclectic view' of the World, and xenophobia is probably not a problem for you. Not so sure we can say that about many of our Fellow Citizens in the Heartland, Countryside, and Rural Hinterlands of Our Great Nation. Don't get me wrong, they are 'good people' and full of 'love' - but too many never travel far from their home, perhaps even their birthplace. They often won't get the opportunity to meet others who may be considered 'different', aside from what's on TV, for example. Well, here's your chance to help them understand and discover that 'Blue State Folks' are not 'evil foreigners' from another Planet. So plan to make a 'Diplomatic Journey' into the deepest, darkest parts of USA that could use some 'light' and 'enlightenment' about the rest of America, and the World. Who knows, you might help find ways to 'Build Bridges Over Troubled Waters' (politically speaking) - and even enjoy meeting the Folks who, literally, live just down the street (so to speak). . Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8 Janet LynNew Mexico Deeply grieved by NYT actual headline: 'Tokyo: Last year’s tragedy means more room for tourists.' Stunned by inhumanity. Wow. Please do the right thing and change that headline! Very troubled to see Myanmar as 'tourist' destination when that government is still committing ruthlessly violent human rights violations, including genocide against the Karen people and other Burmese ethnic groups. Jan. 7, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND14 LSitka, Alaska So many interesting places to visit! But I'm surprised Alaska didn't make the list. If a reader is looking for wild natural places with big mountains, rivers, bears, and untrammeled mother nature, Alaska still tops the list. Here's a cool website to check out to see (and hear) what you're missing: www.encountersnorth.org Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6 READ ALL 5 REPLIES DKArizona I've traveled around Alaska and agree it's a fantastic place, especially for us 99 percenters who are into the outdoors. Thatt website (www.encountersnorth.org) as some great stuff about Alaskan wildlife, with very cool audio. Nothing against London and Moscow, but rather be in Alaska any day! Jan. 7, 2012 at 10:48 p.m.RECOMMEND1 mcgvientiane, laos Holy Moly, that Encounters website is something else. You don't even need to leave the lazy boy to experience this northern marvel. Richard Nelson rocks! Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND LilyChicago Glad to see Puebla on the list- a pretty colonial city with excellent food; lots of cool antiques shops, too, if you're into that. Also not too far from Mexico City, which is a really fun place to visit. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 LRMaryland Puebla is a magnificent colonial city that holds views of beautiful snow capped volcanoes. Its climate is comfortable (not too hot, not too cold) and the food is delicious. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND Andrea BrownPortland, OR For me, NYT travel suggestions are very interesting and fun, but the style of travel they suggest in Myanmar feels a bit off. Skip the boutique hotels and airlines (modern? The plane I was on smelled like kerosene), which amounts to stuffing your hard currency into Tay Za's pockets. A slow-paced, rustic, family-owned guesthouse sort of trip will cost very little and reap great travel experiences, your money will go to the people who need it the most. Spend less time in your A/C hotel room and more in the tea houses. See fewer sights and take more time in each location. Pack a relaxed attitude, a large memory card in your camera, very crisp US bills, and practice smiling for hours because that's what you will be doing every day. Take local buses, boats, trains, carriages, pickup trucks. They aren't always comfy but you will have unforgettable experiences, and get a great perspective on local life. Most people are very poor but have high aspirations and hopes, they are very excited about the recent changes in their country. There was a stretch of several years where few tourists came, so hotels and restaurants closed and are struggling now to reopen to serve the new influx of visitors. I understand things are crowded this year, perhaps wait a year or two? Myanmar is a splendid destination, but travel mindfully, it's not just another country to check off of your bucket list. Your dollars have wheels for good or bad, and it's your responsibility to know the difference. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND7 HarrumphNew York, NY Why so much emphasis on luxury hotels? I'm guessing it's because they send out the greatest number of press releases, etc., and thereby make travel writers' jobs much easier for them. Your readers, however -- if they are anything like me -- would probably rather read about new and interesting places to stay that don't have such generous marketing budgets, and that we otherwise wouldn't know about. There are loads of websites and other publications catering to people who want to know about luxury destinations. I come to the NYT for general-interest type stories. Maybe that's a mistake on my part? Do most other readers really have an interest in luxury hotels right now? How bad does the economy have to get and how glaring the inequalities before people who are in the business of writing about this stuff start feeling a bit of pressure to get a bit more creative with their content? Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND24 kimbastuart, fl am i the only one out here wondering who all the people are who can afford this? i thank God i still have a job. however, my salary has been frozen for nearly five years. yet everything around me is tripling in expense in that same time. i am barely keeping my house and my wits about me--and i did not spend outside my then income to get but expected to my income to rise as have taxes, utilities, electricity, gas, GROCERIES.... i will refrain from further comment about how wonderful a capitalist society and democratic government are when they are not consumed and corrupted by greed, as this country is today...when in the competitive market place there is still a sense of fairplay and fair market price and the kind of competitive opportunity that will bring back jobs and increasing salaries, that's when i'll know i live in the United States of America where it's possible to fulfill dreams of living a better life and having the ability to save a little for something sweet like your ideas of a vacation. who are you people? Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND23 JarrettChicago, IL '6. Tokyo Last year’s tragedy means more room for tourists.' That is both hilarious and tactless. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND16 Ryan BinghamOut there And as Dan Akroyd said a long time ago, 'If you have a lead suit, wear it.' Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND HMA 'Tokyo-- Last year’s tragedy means more room for tourists.' Really poor phrasing there, NYT. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND24 Berlinica Berlin If you are looking for a place with a rich history, great nightlife, and still affordable, go to Berlin. In fact, some ten thousand Americans seem already to be living there. http://blog.berlinica.com/ Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 Tough Old Bird Virginia You're writing this for the 1%, right? Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND18 ViolettaNew York, NY Nosara, Costa Rica is pure paradise!!!!! I have been there a hand full of times and it has surf, yoga, hiking, amazing sports fishing (my brother Adam caught a 300 pound bluefin marlin!) There is a great two bedroom, two bath condo 5 min walk from the beach where I stay. You can look them up at namasteoasis.com or on facebook at Namaste Oasis. AND you must go to La Dolce Vita when you are down there, the food is great. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND none2011Santa Fe NM Tourists andexpats in Costa Rica have ruined the place. Overpriced and overbuilt; everyone should stay away and let those people alone who are natives. Beaches and coasts are ruined by tourists and others. Stay away. Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND1 DeborahSan Diego, CA While 'nominally free' elections certainly are not a reason to visit Myanmar, as Barbara of Kissimmee points out, the genuinely warm and welcoming attitude of the Myanmar citizens to tourists is a powerful reason. We just returned from 3 weeks in Myanmar, traveling on our own without a guide. The physical beauty of the landscape, the temples, and the golden pagodas is completely eclisped by the dynamism, intelligence, grace, culture, and welcome of the residents. I cannot count the times people asked us our country of residence, and then stated: 'Thank you for visiting my country.' Do, by all means, avoid staying in government-run hotels and flying the government airline. Do purchase your mementos from the roadside stands and not the government shops in the airports. Do have a non-government local travel agent book your hotels, domestic flights, and any river trips. But if you are thinking of visiting and can - go. You will not regret it. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6 n1789savannah Home sweet home! Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1 tdl1501 park city ut No, I'm not a one percenter, but have had the pleasure of living in and visiting a number of these places, including Florence, San Diego and Glasgow to name a few. Thanks for putting this list together. It's a great 'bucket list' article! Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND Jon DNM I am glad to see that most of the places I go to, or would go to, are NOT on this list. I encourage everyone to go to the places on the list and to not go anywhere else until you have been to all the places on the list. Also don't let anyone tell you different, Phoenix Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada are still wonderful places that don't have nearly enough people or visitors. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2 elston gunnwashington d.c. If you are interested in visiting Lhasa, China (formerly Tibet) don't go without fully acquainting yourself with the conditions imposed on the native population of Lhasa by the occupying Chinese government. Asia Watch, Human Rights Watch and The International Campaign for Tibet can provide you with information about what to expect if you are misinformed and believe you can still experience Tibetan culture in Lhasa. It is against the law in Lhasa for anyone to own or carry a photograph of the Dalai Lama. Plan your 'excursion' accordingly. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8 Jon DNM I realize as Capitalists who worship Money, the one true God, we shouldn't let anything get in our way of a good vacation. And if we only went places where everywhere agreed with what we thought, we'd probably never go anywhere. But I draw the line at countries like Uganda, that are considering making being homosexual a capital 'crime'. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND10 anonymousDenver Wow. The NYT is obviously totally out of touch with real life. I wish the NYT would publish the demographic upon which they base the vacation section of the newspaper. So who are you travelers? White married men in your 30s in high tech/IT/zero or three marriages? no kids?/Retirees? And if retirees, how are your kids managing if you had any? Where is Jacob Riis when we need him? Come on. Plenty of Americans never take vacations. How about an article about that? What about people in their 50s (newly unemployed?)? What about single moms? A large part of America is still taking vacations via Netflix or a six-pack. Traveling to any of the elitist destinations on this list could more than pay the mortgage or rent. So the main question is: why travel? Is it to understand a culture, or only to relax in the sand? Take a trip through the United States and instead of bathing yourselves ceaselessly see how things really are for most of the ordinary people in this country. Then after your research, you men and women of leisure, please become activists and change our world. Thank you. Jan. 7, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND13 jfk. washington dc So are you saying none of us should travel while others cannot? I have spent years as a volunteer helping others but it wouldn't count with you because it was in a foreign country. I'm an activist and I travel, too. Get over it! Jan. 8, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.RECOMMEND2 coolbickNew York Oh please. Travel is not for the rich and privileged only. Travel is for those who can budget their money and have a desire and WILL to travel. If you know how to research and find flights, accommodation, activities, and food in YOUR price range, then you can go anywhere. No one says you have to follow this list specifically. (Btw, I'm not a white married man in his 30s with an IT job. I'm a single black woman in her mid-20s who works as an artist and just returned from her fourth vacation in 1.5 years.) Jan. 9, 2012 at 3:11 p.m.RECOMMEND |
Justin Mott for The New York Times
Published: January 6, 2012 |
The text being discussed is available at http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html?pagewanted=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha210 |
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